SULTAN JESSA: Scots seem to have no appetite for independence

Scotland’s referendum on whether to split from the United Kingdom and become an independent country is rapidly approaching.

It has been a long and bitter war.

Many polls have consistently shown a majority in agreement with the status quo.

According to the most recent poll, 46 per cent will vote against separating.

This theme is quite familiar in Canada when it comes to Quebec.

Before last April’s provincial election, it was evident there was going to be another referendum had the Parti Quebecois, under than Pauline Marois, had won the election.

But, the people of Quebec, particularly the younger generation, are fed up of referendums and have no interest in separating from the rest of Canada.

The new generation fully realizes that competition for jobs and business is getting fiercer because of the global economy.

English is also becoming the main language for business.

You cannot continue to force people to do everything in just one language.

Of course, the second language is an important asset.

The provincial election campaign in Quebec was dominated by the opposition parties insisting, time and again, that the PQ were going to turn a majority election win into a mandate to hold another referendum.

Quebecers turned out in large numbers to turf the PQ from governing.

There is a lesson here for Scotland.

The world is shrinking and more and more countries around the world are trying to unite to compete for the slice of the economic pie.

In recent debates in Scotland, people who favour independence have been maintaining a similar pattern of vagueness and fear mongering.

Just like in the election campaign, the question of currency has been asked in debates in Scotland.

People who want Scotland to become a separate country have been evading question of what currency an independent country will have.

People of Scotland are rightly demanding clear answers.

Scotland is too small to demand an equal say in how the pound, the British currency, is run.

This is not to say many Scottish people would like to be independent if it does not cost them anything.